Catherine and the Black Emperor

057. Noble fiefdoms and serfdom

1747 October.

"In 800 AD, Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev introduced Christianity to Russia. Besides being the oldest city in Russia, Kiev is also the holiest place in all of Russia..."

Sergei and Anastasia walked in the garden, talking about the city of Kyiv, starting with Elizabeth's pilgrimage to Kyiv three years ago.

Anastasia held a bouquet of flowers in her hand, gazing intently at Sergei's handsome yet cold face as she listened to his story.

It was easy to see from her dreamy eyes that she was completely captivated.

He was so brave, appearing before her like a savior.

He was so polite and gentle, giving her flowers and surprises more than once.

He was so intelligent and knowledgeable, and had a deep understanding of Russian history and cities.

1747 October.

At the ball, Sergei meticulously explained the minuet and four-part dance to Anastasia, guiding her in the dance.

In his spare time, he would also teach Anastasia to ride horses and fencing to improve her physical fitness.

"I'm truly delighted that you and Saltykov have so much in common," Elizabeth said with a smile as Anastasia served her hot tea.

"Thank you for your attention, Your Majesty. It is Your Majesty who has given Saltykov and me so many wonderful experiences." Anastasia bowed.

"I hope you will have many more wonderful things to do in the future."

1747 October.

Catherine found Sergei.

After that slap, the other person seemed to become a completely different person, entirely self-reliant and independent. She spent her days reading in her room or garden, immersing herself in the ocean of knowledge.

Last month, Sergei had a chance encounter with Catherine, who smiled and spoke to him about many philosophical principles and the greatness of enlightened thought.

Sergei remembers it vividly.

However, it is quite rare for someone like Catherine to personally seek him out without fear of suspicion or being seen by others, so it seems the situation is rather urgent.

"Two nobles got into a fight over the serfs, and it's getting more and more serious. The matter has become quite a big deal, and everyone in the palace knows about it. It won't be long before it reaches the Empress," Catherine explained.

"Your Highness, what does this have to do with you?" Sergei asked.

"Peter needed my help. One of the nobles bribed him with toy soldiers, and I was also involved. Another nobleman was my friend Sophia's father..."

After listening to the other party's explanation, Sergei immediately understood.

By handling this matter well, Ekaterina could not only help her friend but also gain Peter's respect. She didn't need him to look up to her, but she needed Peter to be able to keep up with her in their confrontation.

"This matter has escalated to this point and is out of control. Even if it is suppressed, it will still reach His Majesty. Therefore, no matter how it is resolved, His Majesty will not be satisfied," Sergei said bluntly.

"That's what I think too, but I can't just sit idly by, so I've come to Your Highness for help. I hope you have some good ideas," Ekaterina said, looking troubled.

Sergei pondered for a moment, then something came to mind.

This was originally intended for him to impress Elizabeth, but now it seems he can only help Ekaterina first.

"Since we can't control it, let things continue to escalate, let them escalate to the point where they reach Her Majesty the Empress."

Catherine was taken aback: "Your Highness, what's wrong...?"

"The feudal system of nobles and serfdom is inherently ambiguous. If you can make His Majesty aware of this through this matter, and you propose a well-timed and effective solution, you will benefit more from the Empress's appreciation than from the Grand Duke's attention. Moreover, you can certainly help your friends in the process."

Sergei's words made Ekaterina's blue eyes light up.

"Your Highness, you are so clever! How come I didn't think of that!"

Sergei smiled slightly: "But I don't know enough about the feudal lands and serf system of the nobility. You'll have to figure that out for yourself."

"No problem! I'll go back and consult all the books on this subject, and I'll definitely deliver a satisfactory answer!" Ekaterina was full of confidence.

Sergei smiled and nodded, just then a joyful voice came from behind him.

"Sergei!"

Ekaterina turned around and saw Anastasia running towards her.

She had seen the other person before, but upon closer inspection and seeing their face clearly, she was still surprised. She was very confident in her appearance, and few people in the palace could compare to her beauty. But this time, she finally understood what it meant to be "evenly matched".

"Your Highness!"

Upon seeing Ekaterina, Anastasia hurriedly bowed.

"We have met, and His Majesty speaks highly of you," Catherine smiled.

"It is my honor to have His Majesty's approval."

"You are very beautiful," Ekaterina complimented.

"Your Highness is even more beautiful," Anastasia said sincerely.

"Beauty belongs to everyone. You all chat, I'll be going now." Ekaterina turned and left.

She knew about the relationship between the other party and Sergei, often seeing them in various places, and was also aware that Elizabeth had always wanted the two of them to be together.

At first, she didn't care; she was only genuinely happy for Sergei.

But now, she suddenly felt a little lost, and she didn't understand why she would consider Anastasia as an "opponent," even though it was clearly impossible for her to be with Saltykov.

Catherine suddenly stopped and looked back at the two men. They were chatting and laughing, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, so well-matched and so enviable.

"I feel like I've really missed out on something incredibly important in my life..."

1747 4 Month 21 Day.

"Happy birthday."

Today is Catherine's birthday, and Sergei sent her a book about the fiefdoms and serfdom of European nobles.

As Ekaterina looked at the gift, she thought about how, in the years since she came to Russia, Sergei would send her carefully prepared gifts every year on her birthday.

The first year was a Russian book, wishing her to become a true Russian in the future.

The following year, in 1745, Sergei sent her a magnificent dress, hoping she could truly establish herself in Russia.

Last year, she learned to sail, and Sergei gave her a Romanesque sailing ship.

This year, it's still a book, but it's about political affairs.

"Russian language, Russians, life, politics—he has been a part of every aspect of my life since I came to Russia. It's hard to imagine how painful it would be if I couldn't see him one day."

Ekaterina spent the entire night in such distress.

"Perhaps only by focusing on other things can I numb myself and escape the pain."

Catherine then devoted herself entirely to books.

5 month.

Catherine made Elizabeth aware of the flaws in Russia's system of aristocratic fiefdoms and serfdom, and the measures Catherine proposed shocked the Russian Empress.

"It's hard to imagine that Catherine had such a clever and intelligent mind."

6 month.

Elizabeth issued a decree that explicitly allowed nobles to own fiefs and serfs, and listed detailed regulations and guidelines. This regulation was quickly implemented throughout Russia.

Catherine resolved her friend's father's troubles, gaining the attention of Queen Elizabeth and making Peter more wary than ever before.